The Dreamers (2003)

A young American studying in Paris in 1968 strikes up a friendship with a French brother and sister. Set against the background of the '68 Paris student riots.

Director:

Bernardo Bertolucci

Writers:

Gilbert Adair (screenplay), Gilbert Adair (based on his novel)

Stars:

Michael Pitt, Eva Green, Louis Garrel

9 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Michael Pitt	...	Matthew
Eva Green	...	Isabelle
Louis Garrel	...	Theo
Anna Chancellor	...	Mother
Robin Renucci	...	Father
Jean-Pierre Kalfon	...	Himself
Jean-Pierre Léaud	...	Himself (as Jean-Paul Leaud)
Florian Cadiou	...	Patrick
Pierre Hancisse	...	First Buff
Valentin Merlet	...	Second Buff
Lola Peploe	...	The Usherette
Ingy Fillion	...	Theo's Girlfriend

Storyline

Paris, spring 1968. While most students take the lead in the May 'revolution', a French poet's twin son Theo and daughter Isabelle enjoy the good life in his grand Paris home. As film buffs they meet and 'adopt' modest, conservatively educated Californian student Matthew. With their parents away for a month, they drag him into an orgy of indulgence of all senses, losing all of his and the last of their innocence. A sexual threesome shakes their rapport, yet only the outside reality will break it up.

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Plot Keywords:

french | may 1968 | friendship | riot | film buff | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for explicit sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [us]

Country:

UK France Italy

Language:

English French

Release Date:

10 October 2003 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Innocents

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$83,175 (Brazil) (10 December 2004)

Gross:

$83,175 (Brazil) (10 December 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Recorded Picture Company (RPC), Peninsula Films, Fiction Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 112 min (R-rated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Leonardo DiCaprio was offered the role of Matthew, but turned it down because he was in pre-production with The Aviator.

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Goofs

When Isabelle takes Matthew to see her Father, she ruffles his hair and it messes. In the next shot it's perfectly neat.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Matthew: The first time I saw a movie at the cinématèque française I thought, "Only the French... only the French would house a cinema inside a palace."

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Crazy Credits

The end credits scroll down the screen (top-to-bottom), and multi-line entries are written to be read bottom-to-top.

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Connections

References Touch of Evil (1958)

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Soundtracks

"No Strings (I'm Fancy Free)"
(1935)
from "Top Hat"
Written by Irving Berlin
Published by Irving Berlin Music Company
Performed by Fred Astaire
Courtesy of Turner Entertainment Co.

User Reviews

One of the Best Movies of the Year

In 1968, while living in Paris for learning French, the nineteen years old American Matthew (Michael Pitt) meets the also film lovers, amoral and incestuous twins Isabelle (Eva Green) and Theo (Louis Garrel) in the "Cinémathèque Française" in the Palais de Chaillot and they become best friends. They stay together in the twin's apartment, while many social protests are arising on the streets of Paris.

"The Dreamers" has been released on DVD in Brazil a couple of months ago, and it certainly is one of the best movies of the year. The story conflicts the dreams of three youngsters, who breathe and see the world through the cinema, and the reality of life, on the social movements on streets of Paris. The stone through the window of their apartment is a metaphor of the awakening of Isabelle and Theo. The direction is superb, the cinematography and camera are amazing, the erotic story having the background of true events is delightful and the performance of the cast is perfect. The beauty of the unknown Eva Green is very impressive, and I really recommend this outstanding movie. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Os Sonhadores" ("The Dreamers")